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Wednesday, September 09, 2015

DA Morganelli Has Taken $107,800 From Drug Dealers Over Past Year

Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli's Drug Forfeiture Program has seized $107,802.56 in money and property from drug dealers over the twelve months ending in June 30, 2014. This includes $101,830 in cash, $5,459.66 from the sales of 12 forfeited vehicles and $512.90 in shared proceeds from Attorney general forfeitures.

Since 1992, when Morganelli started this program, more than $2 million has been seized. The money is then poured into local police departments, block watch groups, training and even helps pay the salary of a prosecutor.

Under state law, the District Attorney is authorized to seize money, cars and even real estate used to facilitate the drug trade. It is done by a civil action against the property itself (in rem) instead of its owner.

"The message that we want to send to those who deal in drugs is a simple and clear one," said Morganelli. "Be assured that you are doing it at your own risk. When we catch you we will seize your money, your house, your vehicle and any other ill gotten gains from your drug dealings. Drug use and drug dealing in Northampton County will be very unprofitable."

He credited Kristine Blake, Chief Prosecutor of the forfeiture Division, and Attorney Rick Santee for their work.

Morganelli only uses his forfeiture powers against actual drug dealers. "We don't take a house if, unbeknown to you, your son is dealing drugs," he explained.

That's in start contrast to Philadelphia, where homes are seized even when owners are unaware that drug deals are taking place inside. A civil rights suit filed last year remains unresolved, although the DA has agreed to stop barring homeowners from seized properties until the case is heard by a judge. Commonwealth Court Judge Dan Pelligrini has called it "little more than state-sanctioned theft.”

State senators Mike Folmer and Anthony Williams have introduced legislation that would require a criminal conviction before an asset can be forfeited.

14 comments:

Peter J.Cochran
said...

Ya Bernie, Mr.Morganelli ,should not stop there---How about the cars and gold teeth? Income tax evasion and fines and costs needed to be levied --at least for record. Take any and everything from these turds.

For the record-K2 and another synthetic drugs made with no controls are proliferating our territory. The social COSTS associated with this new 'bath salt' derivative is horrific . This stuff literally turns people into real maniacs ,and it's unpredicably dangerous .Unpaid hospital bills and the EMS burden in this county will be enough to send over a dozen people to Harvard Medical School.This one drug compound alone is being brought here ,and is distributed to people that have no idea what it does to them. I want to see S1,780,000 next year taken.

Overall impact on so-called War on Drugs = 0. Crime is worse. Violence is worse. Addiction is worse. Law enforcement, court, and prison personnel are doing OK, though. They're just like defense contractors who cash in during "wars."

What has it cost to take in a whopping 107K? How much are we spending in salaries, pensions, and benefits for these "soldiers" in the so called "war on drugs." The USA imprisons more people per capita than any other nation on earth. Large segments of the population in this country no longer believe or trust law enforcement. It's time to declare victory and end the occupation. Let's save a lot more than 107K by treating addiction as a medical and social issue rather than locking people up and taking their possessions.

7:41 Prevention and education is the start with our children. When you scowl at 107k it is a lot of money that is put back in the community. Your choice to use drugs is NOT a medical or social issue it is YOUR CHOICE! Lock their asses up and take their possessions and use them for preventative purposes. At a block watch night out a few weeks ago, Victor Scomillio ( Who is running for JUDGE in Northampton County)attended and and scowled abruptly when he asked an organizer where the money came from to feed the children in the playground that evening. She kindly explained to him that it was from their Southside Block watch fundraising and from DA John Morganelli who helps to educate these children. Scomillio replied YEAH DRUG MONEY! Shame on you Scomillio, plenty of women, mothers and grandmothers heard you loud and clear that night. Keep working hard Mr. Morganelli we stand beside you in your war on drugs. Educate yourself when you elect these officials in this County!

Addiction is a disease. Judges realized this during Prohibition when they stopped enforcing the Volstead Act. All of today's worsening problems are occurring under prohibition. We're repeating the lessons of history we failed to learn less than a century ago. Locking everybody up is good for government employees and the exploding private prison business. It's very bad for society. The cost of obtaining the $107K should be disclosed. It likely cost millions and the problem has gotten worse.

War on drugs is a national crisis, not only does it effect this county but across the country. Addicts do not become addicted unless they FIRST use the drug. You are not an alcoholic if you never had a drink. You can cure many diseases but you do NOT have to shoot heroine in your veins and say I HAVE A DISEASE! If you sell heroine and the addict dies from an overdose the seller should be charged with murder. Street scum selling these drugs should lose everything, house ,cars, money etc. Crime has no boundaries but allowing the scum to keep their property is just wrong. Illegal assets should be taken and used for education to avoid addiction.

The costs to society is staggering. I feel sorry for the parents, not the abusers, of drugs they deal in. The parents of so well meaning families have a 'customer'under their roof. They take money any pawn family treasurers, and fib and cheat . That has to be hard on self respecting ,working people . The idea that they have failed .Can happen to any family.

"If you sell heroine and the addict dies from an overdose the seller should be charged with murder. Street scum selling these drugs should lose everything, house ,cars, money etc. Crime has no boundaries but allowing the scum to keep their property is just wrong. Illegal assets should be taken and used for education to avoid addiction."

Are you serious? Everything you suggest IS CURRENTLY BEING DONE. Is addiction worse or better? Is associated crime worse or better? Are modern versions of bathtub gin (e.g. K2) emerging and killing people? How's your "War on Drugs" going? If we fought WWII with the same effectiveness, we'd be having this exchange in German or Japanese. You want to continue the same miserably failed and staggeringly expensive policies. Einstein's definition of insanity comes to mind.

If you want to drink gasoline have at it. The drug war is a jobs program, nothing more than a bunch of moralizing, self-righteous authoritarians. More people die from smoking cigarettes and the social cost go far beyond that of illegal drugs. But, you won't see the CEO's of cigarette companies having their stuff stolen by the state. These self-righteous authoritarians get more comfort and political satisfaction going after powerless, marginalized communities that by comparison to drug companies and big tobacco are a nuisance.